SA Digital Migration Policy gazetted

Mar 19, 2015

The Amendments to the Broadcast Digital Migration Policy have been published in the Government Gazette by the Department of Communications. The new policy seeks to clarify the use of a control system in Set Top Boxes (STBs) that will enable households to switch from analogue to digital broadcast signals.

“The Department of Communications has gazetted the Amendment of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy issued under Government Gazette No 31408 on 8 September 2008.

“The gazette No 38583 was published on the 18th March 2015 and is available on the departmental websitewww.doc.gov.za and is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za,” said the department on Thursday.

The Cabinet-approved policy takes into consideration submissions made by stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the department on 6 December 2013.

Acting Director General in department, Donald Liphoko, said: “The time to migrate to a digital broadcasting system has arrived and South Africans should embrace the challenge of opening the digital dividend which will enable the country to unlock the economic and social benefits of broadband technology.”

The department has begun engaging entities on aligning plans to the policy.

Sentech is almost ready to distribute a digital signal while the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is gearing up to provide universal service coverage and new channels.

All television owning households that rely on the old analogue signal will require STBs or decoders to receive digital television.

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, in consultation with Cabinet, is expected to determine the digital signal switch-on and analogue signal switch-off dates, which will be announced soon. – SAnews.gov.za